Description
Irish Barmbrack is a traditional Irish fruit bread packed with golden raisins, dried cranberries, and cherries soaked in strong brewed tea. This no-yeast bread incorporates warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for a comforting, aromatic treat that’s perfect for any time of year, especially during Irish holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Day. The bread is moist, lightly sweet, and easy to make, baking to a golden perfection in about 75-80 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Fruits and Liquids
- 1 cup tea (cold, strong brewed - Tazo Wild Orange recommended)
- 3/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 tsp dried orange peel or zest of 1 large orange
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups self rising flour (or substitute with 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 tsp baking powder + 1/4 tsp salt)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
Other
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
Instructions
- Soak the Fruits: In a bowl, combine the cold strong brewed tea with the golden raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, and dried orange peel or zest. Cover the bowl with cling film and let the fruits soak in the refrigerator overnight. This step plumps the dried fruits and infuses them with flavor.
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it lightly to prevent sticking.
- Mix the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the soaked fruit and tea mixture with the room temperature egg, ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and light brown sugar. Stir everything together thoroughly to combine.
- Add the Flour: Gradually add all the self rising flour to the wet mixture. Stir gently until all the flour is fully incorporated and you have a wet dough. Avoid overmixing to ensure a tender crumb.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the wet dough into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour. After 1 hour, check the bread’s color—if it’s browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Finish Baking: Continue baking for another 15 to 30 minutes, checking for doneness after 75 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the loaf is golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack. Let it cool completely before slicing. This cooling step helps the bread set and enhances the texture.
Notes
- Traditional Irish Barmbrack is a wonderfully easy and flavorful raisin bread that doesn’t require yeast, making it quick to prepare.
- Soaking the fruits overnight ensures they are plump and juicy, which contributes to the bread’s moist texture.
- Adjust baking times as needed depending on your oven and pan size; a loaf pan around 9×5 inches is standard.
- This bread is popularly enjoyed during Irish holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Day but is delicious any time of year.
- For extra flavor, you can add a splash of Irish whiskey to the soaking tea if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 221 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 17 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
